Press Release No. 21-2018
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN JEDDAH MAKES SURPRISE INSPECTION OF SAUDI RECRUITMENT AGENCIES IN TABUK CITY IN NORTHWEST ARABIA
(Jeddah, 15 April 2018) - For the first time in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia, representatives from the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah made a surprise inspection of the facilities of Saudi recruitment agencies in Tabuk City in Northwest Arabia. Consul General Edgar Badajos and Vice Consul Alexander Joseph Estomo made the surprise visit at the facilities of one of the Saudi Recruitment Agencies in Tabuk City in the afternoon of April 15 to check whether the living quarters of Filipino Household Service Workers it recruits and deploys to various Saudi employers are clean and safe.
During the surprise visit, Consul General Badajos also met with six (6) Filipino Household Service Workers who were inside the facility at that time, waiting for their repatriation to the Philippines. The said OFWs left their employers for various reasons. The recruitment agency informed the Consul General that it is currently processing their repatriation papers.
Consul General Badajos meets with distressed HSWs at their recruitment agency’s accommodation
“Our surprise inspection of Saudi Recruitment Agency facility is part of our efforts to protect the well-being of Filipino household service workers who are usually the target of unfair labor practices and abusive behavior by some employers,” said Consul General Badajos.
Consul General Badajos also engaged recruitment agencies in Tabuk by soliciting inputs from their owners/managers on the issues and challenges related to the deployment of HSWs in the Kingdom. An agency owner said that “proper training and orientation of HSWs before deploying them to their respective employers would help minimize the incidence of maladjustment and culture shock.”
Consul General Badajos and a mobile consular team were in Tabuk City on 13-14 April 2018 to render a full range of services to Filipinos in the city and neighboring areas. Tabuk is located northwest of Saudi Arabia and can be reached by 10-hour travel by land of 1 hour and 45 minutes by air. The teams also included representatives from the Consulate’s Consular and Assistance-to-Nationals Section (ANS), the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), PAGIBIG, and Social Security System (SSS).
During the consular mobile service, the Consulate also continued to engage the Filipino community and employers of household service workers through its dialogue/information dissemination program. Vice Consul Alexander Estomo of the ANS reminded those who were at the CMS to strictly follow local laws, customs, and traditions so that their personal security and livelihood would not be compromised. The Filipino community was also advised to take advantage of the various government services/mechanisms for hedging against emergency situations and for achieving financial security. Furthermore, Social Welfare Attaché Priscilla N. Razon reminded employers to always look after the welfare of their household service workers (HSW) and to give what is due them.
Social Welfare Attaché Priscilla N. Razon interacts with employers and their HSWs
The next Consular Mobile Services will be held at the Al Bayda Hotel in Madinah on 27-28 April 2018. Those who wish to avail themselves of consular services may contact Mr. Almin Bantuas at mobile number 055 331 8653. END
